I move:
That the period for reporting back of the Joint Committee on Marriage Breakdown be extended to 21 March 1985.
Joint Committee on Marriage Breakdown: Motion.
I wish to oppose this extension in respect of this committee. It is becoming something of a joke, certainly to people outside this House and to those who are trapped in situations of irretrievable marriage breakdown. The committee was established in July 1983 and it should have reported in July 1984. This was subsequently extended to December and a guarantee was given at that stage that the report would definitely be made by December. Subsequently they got a further extension until February and again we were assured that the report would be before us before 19 February. Now we are being asked for a further extension, and I see no valid reason at this stage why that should be granted. No reason has been offered by the chairperson of the committee as to why they want this extension. What difficulty is being encountered in reporting? No official report by the committee has been given to Deputies since November or December 1983. We read plenty of news reports and speculation about what is taking place, but this House is not being kept up-to-date about the discussions and the debates that are proceeding. Therefore, I oppose the extension for a further period. I see no point in prolonging the agony, so to speak, of those involved in the committee or of this House. It is time that the matter was brought back to the floor of this House so that the House can discuss the problems and make decisions in relation to them.
I assure the Deputy that this is no joke for the members of the committee. Since this committee was instituted it is fair to say that no other committee has put in the same amount of work in the first year. In a number of weeks we had two days of sittings often of four hours a day. For the past six months we have met twice a week at an average of about six hours per week. Last Sunday we found it necessary to move out to Athlone in the hope of getting a long, quiet day to complete the report. Very few committees have given the same service. We are conscious of the seriousness of this report. We are being very careful to bring a report to this House which will be not alone the pride of the committee but also of both Houses of the Oireachtas. No time is being lost and we hope to have the report completed in a week or so. Nevertheless, we have decided to seek an extension to 21 March. I assure the Deputy that our committee are working well. I know that Members who perhaps are not really interested in what is happening and have not been associated with the social aspects of it as we are think that this is a long time, but we have covered a very wide area. For that reason it is not possible to produce the report on the date expected; therefore we are seeking an extension and I hope that the House will approve of that.
Question put and agreed to.